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Hi,

The new dates for the Spa Francorchamps trackday have just been released !

Check out Marc Duez's website

26/03/05
22/07/05
28/10/05

Thanks Himpe

me, me, me...............

Ahhh that magnetic gravel is calling you back
Cheers
jr

johneroberts wrote:Ahhh that magnetic gravel is calling you back
Cheers
jr

@fatcat: i still haven't seen the footage yet of you going off at pouhon

himpe wrote:

johneroberts wrote:Ahhh that magnetic gravel is calling you back
Cheers
jr

@fatcat: i still haven't seen the footage yet of you going off at pouhon

There lays a story, the tape ran out on the 'bend before' I went off, about 6-8 seconds before.

my last thoughts going off were 'keep the wheels straight, keep the wheels striaght..............' I had visions of that poor sod going off at LeMans in his scooby and cartwheeling across the gravel.....


A lesson well learn't I think - pity I did'nt apply any trackday common sense when I went off (ie, to brake !!!).


Gimme Spa and gimme it NOW

What do you guys reckon is the best track in the world ?
And where would Spa Francorchamps be in that list ?

himpe wrote:What do you guys reckon is the best track in the world ?
And where would Spa Francorchamps be in that list ?

Not sure about the best track in the world, but the Le Mans Bugatti circuit in my humbled opinion was my best track I've had the pleasure to drive on. A heady mixture of a new surface and technical layout along with a great bunch of guys (and gal) made it one of my most memorable trackday weekends.

In some sortof order then:

LeMans Bugatti
Spa
Donnington (uk)
Nurburging
Estoril

I would agree with FatCat (haven't been to Estoril though), with maybe switching Spa and Bugatti as I favored the length of Spa and the "scare" factor it offers in several sections (but in a safe way, not as nasty/lethal as the "No mistake allowed, period" NurburgRing).

Also a very nice/profesionnal track organisation (timing, marshalls, seriously good instructors for free) at Spa during the Marc Duez track day.

Eric

Taipan wrote:Also a very nice/profesionnal track organisation (timing, marshalls, seriously good instructors for free) at Spa during the Marc Duez track day.

Eric

Sorry Eric but I have to disagree a little on that point.

On two occasions I was pulled into the exit lane of the circuit (on a hot lap) with absolutely no notice that it was the end of the session except for the marshall jumping onto the track infront of me, waving a yellow flag and pointing you into the pits. We should have been given the chequered flag over the start/finish straight going into eau rouge to signify the end of the session and allowed a 1 lap cool down.

I spoke with mr Deuz about this issue (after the second time it happen) and was met with the response that they didn't have time to allow for a cool down lap and I should look at my watch to see when my twenty minutes is up and slow down before then. Dont know about you lot but to me that says they dont give a <beep> about your car and are just out to make more money by allowing time for more sessions. last thing I'm doing in the car while out on track is wondering what the bloody time is.

Your right though Eric the circuit certainly has the ability to get you raising your eyebrows in places.

No problem, I was comparing with my other experiences on track days in France.

For example, Le Mans Bugatti was real bad as the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest who owns the Le Mans track and organises the 24H Le Mans race) provided ZERO marshalls, no black flag, just a ridiculously small Red light here and there, which then forced everyone to be kicked out and go for another 40-50 mins queue, even after only 5 mins drive.
And forcing ME to jump into my car to intercept the four idiots in the BMW and take them out of the track. WTF, I got REAL mad at the ACO on this.

But I guess track days in the UK are of a higher level, as I did see in Donnington indeed.

I must also admit that I never did a session from A to Z at Spa, as it happened that I was doing 4-6 laps in an intensive way
(wink wink to PhilT ) followed by a cool-down lap, then back to the pits before the end of the session.
So I didn't encounter the problem and I can understand it's annoying.

Not sure if it deffo proves that "they dont give a <beep> about your car and are just out to make more money by allowing time for more sessions" though.
Not informing ppl for a last cooldown lap doesn't make the official 20 mins session (sessions started at 00, 20, 40 every hour, as printed on the day track schedule we got on the morning) any shorter nor generate more cash, imho.
But they could use a checkered flag as a matter of courtesy and goodwill, no doubt.

I hope that won't prevent you from joining another track day at Spa cause I had a real good fun with all of you RS246.com mates that day.


Eric

wink wink to PhilT

Indeed, some excellent driving

PhilT wrote: Indeed, some excellent driving

Ooops, just realised I failed to keep my promise to you about that training I did, Phil.

(Thanks for the compliment but it really comes down to one thing since the we drove together at Oulton Park in Dec 2003 and I have absolutely no merit here, tbh.)

The "RS4-RS6 owner only" one-day individual training in YOUR car is run by the Audi Quattro Training Center in the CERAM in Mortefontaine, 70km north of Paris (CERAM : Centre d'Etudes et de Recherche Automobile de Mortefontaine / Automobile Study and Research Center).

You spend the day with the chief instructor (and center manager) in your car and he really gets you down to your knees in your RS4 on a junior version of the NurburgRing they have there, how to manage braking at full speed, how to "throw" your car into a turn (not a natural move at all but the Quattro does wonders), etc.

Plus a few laps in the oval track at + 250km/h with 10-meter steep bended turns (probably the weirdest thing to experience as you feel the blood leaving your brain due to the G-Force: getting dizzy/drunk at 250km/h while checking the upcoming track through your side window is a hell of an xp).

His name is Bruno Arnoult, he's been running the show in France for more than 10 years, knows all the Audi models inside out. He'll teach you things with your RS4 that will make your jaws go "donk"...

The full training costs 550 Euros (approx 300-350 GBP) but it's worth every penny imo.
You go home as a different driver after that day, at least for me

Just PM me and I'll give you his mobile phone (he's a lovely fellow and speak decent english afaik).
That offer is extended to all RS246.com members who may be interested.

Eric
PS : in total, you'll "only" spend 3 hours at the wheel during that day actually but I can assure you it's exhausting and potentially nerve-breaking (wasn't raining that day). The few sessions where he takes you on the track in a standard S4 V8 to show you "the way" don't help

The site is updated, and inscriptions are open
Hope to see some of you there again at the end of march !

http://www.marc-duez.be/forms/inscriptions.htm

Eric you havn't got anyone in the South of France for training have you?

KC